Rod contouring alignment linkage

ABSTRACT

Pedicle screws are designed to provide polyaxial coupling to pedicles of a vertebra. Intermediate pieces are attached to the pedicles screws and receive extender shafts. Extenders are inserted in the intermediate piece. The extenders project the anatomic points located in the cage outside the patient&#39;s body to facilitate proper contouring of a rod. An alignment linkage is used to ensure that the extenders are parallel to each other. The alignment linkage includes a linkage frame, an articulating linkage and a locking member. The articulating linkage has all rotational degrees of freedom and thereby adapts to any varying trajectories of the extenders and distance between the extenders. The alignment linkage includes a locking member with a pop-up indicator. The pop-up indicator notifies the users when the locking member is tightened with two of the extenders in non-parallel configuration.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/904,029, filed Sep. 25, 2007, which claims priority from ProvisionalApplication No. 60/847,157, filed Sep. 25, 2006, the disclosures ofwhich are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the selection andconfiguration of implantable devices, and more particularly to alignmentlinkage for orthopedic implant configuration for posterior spinal fusionsystems.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art

A wide variety of orthopedic implants exist. Such implants are typicallyanchored to bones within the body. Every person has different bonestructure; accordingly, implants must vary considerably in geometry tomeet the needs of a broad range of patients. Sophisticated surgicalnavigation equipment may be used to properly locate these implants onthe bone. However, such equipment is expensive and constitutes an addedlayer of complexity in the operating room. Visualization methods such asx-rays and fluoroscopy can also be utilized to help determine bonegeometry. However, contact with the bones must often be made in order toprovide a sufficiently accurate measurement of bony landmarks. Currentprocedures often involve the exposure of a relatively large area topermit such measurement.

According to new minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures, manyorthopedic implants can be secured to bone through relatively smallincisions. Unfortunately, if a larger incision must be made to permitbone measurement and implant selection or configuration, most of thebeneficial effects of the MIS implantation procedure will be lost.Accordingly, there is a need in the art for bony landmark measurementand implant selection or configuration methods that can be carried outthrough small incisions. Such methods should be relatively simple andquick to perform, with comparatively simple instrumentation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention fills the need described above by providing asystems and methods for configuring and/or selecting implantable devicesfor posterior spinal fusion. The system includes pedicle screws designedto provide polyaxial coupling to pedicles of a vertebra. Pedicle screwshave a cage shaped to receive a rod, and a screw that is able to extendfrom the cage along a plurality of relative orientations. Each cage hastwo arms that extend generally away from the screw and define a firstslot and a second slot through which a rod can pass. Tightening of a nutin the arms of the cage presses the rod against the head of the screw tokeep the rod in place within the slots and to lock the orientation ofthe screw with respect to the cage.

Intermediate pieces are attached to the pedicles screws to form passagesfor receiving projection shafts. Alternately, cannulas may be attachedto pedicle to form the passages for receiving projection shafts. Theconnection between the intermediate pieces and the pedicle screws aresnug, thereby making the intermediate pieces coaxial with the respectivecages of the pedicle screws. Similarly, the cannulas are coaxial withrespective cages of the pedicle.

Extenders are inserted in the intermediate piece. The extenders are inengagement with the pedicle screw. The extenders project the anatomicpoints located in the cage outside the patient's body to facilitateproper contouring of the rod. Thus, the space between the intermediatepieces need not be accessed to obtain the proper rod configuration. Theextenders are coaxial with respective cages. However, if the extendersare not parallel to each other, projected anatomic points will not havethe same spatial relationship (i.e., relative positioning) as theanatomic points in the cage. The proximal ends of the extenders have ageometry that mimics the geometry of the cages.

An alignment linkage is used to ensure that the extenders are parallelto each other. The alignment linkage includes a linkage frame, anarticulating linkage and a locking member. The articulating linkage hasall rotational degrees of freedom and thereby adapts to any varyingtrajectories of the extenders and distance between the extenders. Thealignment linkage includes a locking member with a pop-up indicator. Thepop-up indicator notifies the users when the locking member is tightenedwith two of the extenders in non-parallel configuration. Once the firstand second extenders are locked in parallel position, the process isrepeated using a second alignment linkage to lock the second and thethird extender in mutually parallel position. Once the alignmentlinkages have been applied, the extenders are locked parallel and theprojected anatomic points mimic the relative positioning of the anatomicpoints within the body.

A rod is seated in rod interfaces on the proximal end of the extendersfor contouring. The first end of the rod is positioned in the rodinterface of the first extender, the central portion is positioned inthe rod interface of the second extender, and the second end ispositioned in the rod interface of the third extender. Due to naturalvariations in spinal morphology, the rod interfaces may not be arrangedin a straight line. Thus, the rod may need to be bent into the propershape, for example, through the use of tooling such as pliers, a vice,or the like, so that it will lie properly within the rod interfaces. Inthe alternative the rod may simply be selected from a kit. After the rodhas been configured or selected, the rod and the extenders may beremoved from the operating site, leaving the pedicle screws in place.The cannulas or intermediate pieces, if used, may also be removed atthis stage. The rod may be inserted subcutaneously and placed on thecages.

An object of the invention is to provide a system for projectinganatomic points located within a patient's body outside the patient'sbody. The system includes a first pedicle screws and a second pediclescrew, the first and the second pedicle screws are adapted to attach ina patient's body and have a first anatomic point and a second anatomicpoint located therein, respectively. A first extender and a secondextender are connected to the first pedicle screw and the second pediclescrew, respectively. An alignment linkage having a first arm and asecond arm is attached to the first extender and the second extender.The first arm and the second arm of the alignment linkage are rotatablewith respect to each other. A locking screw is attached to the alignmentlinkage to lock the first and the second extenders in parallelorientation. When the extenders are parallel to each other, the firstanatomic point and the second anatomic point are projected outside thepatient's body to corresponding points on proximal ends of the firstextenders and the second extender and the projected anatomic pointsmimic the relative position of the first and the second anatomic pointswithin the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system for projectinganatomic points located within a patient's body outside the patient'sbody wherein the system has a first pedicle screws and a second pediclescrew. The first and the second pedicle screws attach in a patient'sbody and have a first anatomic point and a second anatomic point locatedwithin the body of the screws. A first extender and a second extenderare connected to the first pedicle screws and the second pedicle screwsrespectively. A first alignment linkage having a first arm and a secondarm is attached to the first extender and the second extender. The firstarm and the second arm are rotatable with respect to each other. Apop-up pin is included in the first alignment linkage. The pop-up pinpops when one attempts to lock with each other the first and the secondarm while the first extender and the second extender are not parallel toeach other. The popping of the pin indicates that the anatomic pointscorresponding to the first anatomic point and the second anatomic pointthat are projected outside the patient's body to a corresponding pointson the proximal end of the first extenders and the second extender donot accurately mimic the relative position of the first and the secondanatomic points within the body.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of projectinganatomic points located within a patient's body outside the patient'sbody. The projected anatomic points may be used to select or shape animplant to connect the anatomic points in the patient's body. The methodincludes implanting a first pedicle screw and a second pedicle screw inthe patient's body and attaching a first extender and a second extenderto the first pedicle screw and the second pedicle screw respectively.Next, the first extender and the second extender are locked in amutually parallel position using an alignment linkage that has two limbsthat are rotatably connected to each other. A first proximal end of thefirst extender and a second proximal end of the second extender may nowbe used as a proxy for a first anatomic point and a second anatomicpoint located in the patient's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of two adjacent vertebrae of a spine, withguide wire implanted in the pedicles of the right side.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing guide wires, cannulas and pediclescrews implanted in three adjacent vertebrae (not shown).

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing pedicle screws implanted in threeadjacent vertebrae (not shown), intermediate pieces and extenders.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an extender.

FIG. 4A is a front view of the extender of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4B is a side view of the extender of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4C is a cross sectional view of the extender of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4D is an enlarged view showings detail of construction of thedistal end of the extender of FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cannulas and pedicle screws of FIG.2 with extenders connected to the pedicle screws.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a rod contouring alignment linkage.

FIG. 6A shows various parts of the rod contouring alignment linkage in adisassembled state.

FIG. 6B is a side view of the rod contouring alignment linkage of FIG.6.

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the rod contouring alignmentlinkage of FIG. 6 with the section taken along line A-A shown in FIG.6B.

FIG. 7 illustrates a linkage frame included in the assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates an articulating linkage included in the assembly ofFIG. 6.

FIG. 9 illustrates a thumb screw with a conical tip included in theassembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 illustrates a spring loaded pin included in the assembly of FIG.6.

FIG. 11 illustrates a spring included in the assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 12 illustrates an o-ring included in the assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 13 illustrates a hollow cylinder 340 included in the assembly ofFIG. 6.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C and 14D illustrate the details of the pop-upindicator under various states of alignment of the extenders.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing three extenders being alignedusing two alignment linkages.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the pedicle screws, the extenders, andthe alignment linkages, with a rod seated in the rod interfaces of theextenders.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of three adjacent vertebrae of the spine,with the rod secured to the pedicle screw to provide posterior spinalfusion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to systems and methods for configuringand/or selecting devices to be implanted in the body. More particularly,the present invention relates to projecting anatomic points locatedwithin a patient's body outside the patient's body to facilitateselection or configuration of an implant that is to be implanted in thebody between the anatomic points. Although the examples provided hereingenerally relate to contouring a rod for a posterior spinal fusionsystem, the present invention may be applied to any procedure in whichthe relative position and/or orientations of internal anatomic locationsare to be measured or used to configure or select an implant.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view illustrates a portion of a spine20. As shown, the portion of the spine 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 includesa first vertebra 24, which may be the L5 (Fifth Lumbar) vertebra of apatient, and a second vertebra 26, which may be the L4 (Fourth Lumbar)vertebra of the patient. The systems and methods described hereafter maybe applicable to any vertebra or vertebrae of the spine 20 and/or thesacrum (not shown). In this application, the term “vertebra” may bebroadly interpreted to include the sacrum.

As shown, the first vertebra 24 has a body 28 with a generally disc-likeshape and two pedicles 30 that extend posteriorly from the body 28.Similarly, the second vertebra 26 has a body 48 from which two pedicles50 extend posteriorly. The vertebrae 24, 26 and/or the intervertebraldisc (not shown) between them, may be damaged or diseased in some mannerthat makes it desirable to secure the vertebrae 24, 26 together in amanner that prevents relative motion between them. Accordingly,posterior spinal fusion may be employed to secure the pedicles 30, 50together.

As further illustrated in FIG. 1, a first guide wire 70 may be insertedinto the right side pedicle 30 of the first vertebra 24, and a secondguide wire 72 may be inserted into the right-side pedicle 50 of thesecond vertebra 26. The distal ends 76 of the guide wires 70, 72 may beimplanted by methods known in the surgical arts. A third guide wire 78(see FIG. 2) may be positioned adjacent to the first and second guidewires 70, 72 as though the third guide wire 78 were implanted in theright-hand pedicle of a vertebra (not shown in FIG. 1 or 2) directlysuperior to the second vertebra 26. Accordingly, the method describedherein may be used to secure together vertebrae on multiple levels, notjust two adjacent vertebrae.

Dilators and cannula, and a variety of other guiding devices anddilation devices used in the surgical art may be used with the methoddescribed herein. A detailed description of such use is provided incommonly assigned patent application entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT CONFIGURATION” filed Jul. 8, 2005, Ser. No.11/178,035, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Guide wires 70, 72, and 78 may be used to guide pedicle screws 140, 142and 148 (see FIG. 2) to their implantation position on vertebrae 24, 26and 28 respectively. The pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 may be designedto provide polyaxial coupling to the associated pedicles. Pedicle screws140, 142 and 148 each have a cage 152 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) shaped toreceive a rod, and a screw 154 that passes through an aperture (notvisible) of the cage 152 in such a manner that the screw 154 is able toextend from the cage 152 along a plurality of relative orientations.Thus, after the screw 154 has been implanted in a pedicle, theorientation of the cage 152 with respect to the screw 154 can still bealtered. Each of the screws 154 has a lumen passing along the axis ofthe screw 154 so that the screws 154 can slide along the guide wires 70,72, and 78 for accurate implantation in the pedicles.

Each cage 152 has two arms 156 that extend generally away from the screw154 and define a first slot 158 and a second slot 160 through which arod (not shown in FIG. 2 or 3) can pass. The closed ends of the slots158, 160 are rounded in a manner that corresponds to the radius of therod to be retained within the cage 152 to facilitate secure retention ofthe rod. The inward-facing surfaces of the arms 156 may be threaded toenable the arms 156 to receive a nut (not shown in FIG. 2 or 3).Tightening of the nut then presses the rod against the head (not shown)of the screw 154 to keep the rod in place within the slots 158, 160, andto lock the orientation of the screw 154 respect to the cage 152.

The pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 represent only one of many types ofconnection elements that may be used in connection with the presentinvention. A variety of known devices may be used to secure a rod to aplurality of vertebra to provide posterior fusion.

Upon implantation in the pedicles, pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 arepositioned such that a first anatomic point 164, a second anatomic point166, and a third anatomic point 168 are within the cages 152 of thefirst pedicle screw 140, the second pedicle screw 142, and the thirdpedicle screw 148, respectively. Upon installation of the rod, the axisof the rod is to pass through the anatomic points 164, 166 and 168.

FIG. 3 also shows intermediate pieces 80. Each intermediate piece 80includes intermediate piece arms 82 and 88 forming a passage of fixeddimension. Ends of the intermediate piece arms 82 and 88 are connectedto the arms 156 of the cage 152. The connection between the arms 156 andthe intermediate piece arms 82 and 88 may be made in any suitablemanner, for example, via a latch or a threaded joint. The intermediatepieces 80, when attached to the pedicles screws 140, 142 and 148, form apassage for receiving projection shafts 180A, 182A and 188Arespectively. Alternately, cannulas 100, 102 and 108 (see FIG. 2) may beattached to pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 to form a passage forreceiving projection shafts 180, 182 and 188 respectively. Theconnection between the intermediate pieces 80 and the pedicle screws140, 142 and 148 are snug, thereby making the intermediate pieces 80coaxial with the respective cages 152 of the pedicle screws 140, 142 and148. Similarly, the cannulas 100, 102 and 108 are coaxial withrespective cages 152 of the pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148.Intermediate pieces 80 may be used in place of cannulas 100, 102 and 108or vice versa.

FIG. 3 illustrates intermediate pieces 80 with first extender 180A and asecond extender 182A. Each intermediate piece includes two arms. A thirdextender 188A (not shown in FIG. 3) may also be inserted in the thirdintermediate piece shown in FIG. 3. First second and third extenders180A, 182A and 188A are in engagement with the pedicle screw 140, 142and 148 respectively. FIG. 4 illustrates the first, second or thirdextender; FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate various details ofconstruction of the extender of FIG. 4. The engagement between theextenders 180A, 182A, and 188A (or 180, 182 and 188) and pedicle screws140, 142 and 148 respectively may be a threaded connection or a snap fitor a latch or any other suitable means for engagement. The extenders180A, 1802A and 188A (or 180, 182 and 188 seen in FIG. 5) are used torespectively project the anatomic points 164, 166 and 168 outside thepatient's body to facilitate proper contouring of the rod (not shown inFIG. 2 or 3). Thus, the space between the intermediate pieces 80 neednot be accessed to obtain the proper rod configuration. The extenders180A, 1802A, 188A, (or 180, 182 and 188) are coaxial with respectivecages 152. The coaxiality of the extenders 180, 182, 188 (or 180A, 182A,188A) with the cages 152 enables rod interfaces 200 (see FIG. 5) toprovide a linear transformation of each of the first, second, and thirdanatomic points 164, 166 and 168 to points outside the body. Moreprecisely, the first extender 180A (or 180) projects the first anatomicpoint 164 along the length of the first extender 180A (or 180) to afirst projected point 214 within the rod interfaces 200 of the firstextender. The second and third anatomic points 166, 168 are similarlyprojected to second and third projected points 216, 218. However, if theextenders 180A, 182A and 188A (or 180, 182 or 188) are not parallel toeach other, projected points 214, 216, 218 will not have the samespatial relationship (i.e., relative positioning) as the anatomic points164, 166, 168.

Referring to FIG. 5, a perspective illustrates the cannulas 100, 102 and108 and the pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 of FIG. 2, with a firstextender 180, a second extender 182, and a third extender 188 insertedinto engagement with the cannulas 100, 102, 108 and pedicle screws 140,142, 148. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 5, each of the extenders 180,182, 188, 180A, 182A and 188A (not shown) has a proximal portion 192, adistal portion 194, and a stem 196 extending between the proximalportion 192 and distal portion 194. The proximal portion 192 of each ofthe extenders 180, 182, 188 has a handle 198 that may be grasped by handor by tool. Each proximal portion 192 of the extenders 180, 182, 188,180A, 182A and 188A also has an implant interface, which may take theform of a rod interface 200. Each rod interface 200 is shaped to receivea portion of a rod to facilitate contouring of the rod so that thecontoured rod will pass through the anatomic points 164, 166, 168 withinthe cages 152 of the implanted pedicle screws 140, 142, 148.

Each of the rod interfaces 200 has two arms 202 that extend generallyaway from the remainder of the corresponding extender 180, 182, 188,180A, 182A or 188A. The arms 202 of each rod interface 200 define atrough 204 through which a rod (not shown) can pass. The base of thetrough 204 is rounded in a manner that corresponds to the radius of therod to be retained within the cage 152 to facilitate secure retention ofthe rod. The arms 202 are similar in configuration to the arms 156 ofthe cage 152 of the corresponding pedicle screw 140, 142 and 148, andthe trough 204 is similar to a trough defined by the first and secondslots 158, 160 of the cage 152. Accordingly, the rod interfaces 200mimic the geometry of the cages 152 of the pedicle screws 140, 142 and148.

The extenders 180, 182 and 188, shown in FIG. 5 and extenders 180A, 182Aand 188A shown in FIG. 3 represent only two of many potential extenderconfigurations that may be used in connection with the presentinvention. Other extender configurations may be advantageous,particularly if the cannulas, dilators, connection elements,intermediate pieces or guidance members employed are different fromthose of FIGS. 3 and 5. However, the extenders 180A, 182A and 188A (or180, 182 and 188) must be parallel to each other for the projectedpoints 214, 216 and 218 to have the same spatial relationship (i.e.,relative positioning) as anatomic points 164, 166 and 168.

FIGS. 6, 6A, 6B and 6C show various views of an assembly of a rodcontouring alignment linkage 310 (the alignment linkage 310). Thealignment linkage 310 is used to ensure that the extenders 180A, 182Aand 188A (or 180, 182 and 188) are parallel to each other. Hereafteronly 180A, 182A and 188A are mentioned, however, the discussionhereafter applies equally to extenders 180, 182 and 188. The alignmentlinkage 310 includes a linkage frame 312 (see FIG. 7), an articulatinglinkage 314 (see FIG. 8) and a locking member 316. The linkage frame 312includes an arm 318 having a bore 320. The bore 320 is adapted toreceive one of the extenders 180A, 182A and 188A. The linkage frame 312also includes a spherical cutout 322 that receives the articulatinglinkage 314. The spherical cutout 322 allows the articulating linkage314 to have all rotational degrees of freedom and thereby allows it toadapt to any varying trajectories of extenders 180A, 182A and 188A.

The articulating linkage 314 includes a partial spherical ball 324 thatmates with the spherical cutout 322. The ball 324 has a conical taperedcutout 326 and a cylindrical bore 328 concentric with the conicaltapered cutout 326. The articulating linkage 314 has a second bore 330at the opposing end from the cylindrical bore 328. The second bore 330is adapted to receive one of the extenders 180A, 182A and 188A. Thebores 320 and 330 in the alignment linkage 310 constrain only theappropriate degrees of freedom of the extenders to align two of theextenders 180A, 182A and 188A in a parallel orientation. At the sametime, the alignment linkage 310 does not constrain other degrees offreedom such as rotation about or translation along the central axis ofthe extenders 180A, 182A and 188A.

The locking member 316 (FIG. 6) includes a thumb screw 332 (see FIG. 9)with a conical tip 334 and a spring loaded pin 336 (FIG. 10) engaged ina bore 346 in the centre of the thumb screw 332. The spring loaded pinassembly includes the spring loaded pin 336, spring 338 (see FIG. 11),an o-ring 348 (see FIG. 12) and a hollow cylinder 340 (see FIG. 13). Thetip of the spring loaded pin 336 is insertable in the central bore 342in the hollow cylinder 340. When the spring loaded pin 336 and thehollow cylinder 340 are assembled in the locking member 316, spring 338is captured in the bore 346 between the pin 336 and the hollow cylinder340. The conical tip 334 engages with the conical tapered cutout 326.Since the articulating linkage 314 can rotate, the alignment linkage 310can be used with varying intra-pedicular distances. The spring loadedpin 336 snaps into the cylindrical bore 328 of the articulating linkage314 when the articulating linkage 314 and linkage frame 318 are lockedvia tightening of thumb screw 332.

FIGS. 14A, B, C, D show the details of the pop-up indicator provided bythe spring loaded pin 336. The pop-up indicator notifies the users whenthe locking member 316 is tightened with two of the extenders 180A, 182Aand 188A in non-parallel configuration. FIGS. 14A, B C, D shows thelocking member 316 in various stages of use. FIG. 14A shows the lockingmember 316 being tightened with the extenders attached to the alignmentlinkage 310 in a parallel position. In this instance the conical tip 334aligns with the conical cutout 326 (see FIG. 14B) and the extenders arelocked in the parallel position.

FIG. 14C illustrates a case when the locking member 316 is beingtightened and the extenders attached to the alignment linkage 310 aregrossly un-parallel. In this instance the locking member 316 may notadvance easily. However, as seen in FIG. 14D, if the extenders attachedto the alignment linkage 310 are slightly un-parallel, the lockingmember 316 would advance. When the locking member 316 is advanced, thehollow cylinder 340 is also advanced. However, the un-parallel positionof extenders results in the cylinder 340 not being aligned with bore328, which in turn leads to the cylinder 340 hitting the conical taperedcutout 326. Once the cylinder 340 touches the conical tapered cutout 326and locking member 316 is advanced further thereafter, spring 338 iscompressed leading to pop-out of the pin 336. The pop-out of the pin 336indicates to the surgeon that the extenders are not in parallelorientation and that the surgeon should bring the extenders in parallelorientation and thereafter tighten the locking member 316 to lock theextenders in parallel orientation. Once the first and second extendersare locked in parallel position, the process is repeated using a secondalignment linkage 350 (see FIG. 15) to lock the second and the thirdextender in mutually parallel position. The extenders 180A, 182A and 188a could be manipulated by the surgeon to make them parallel to eachother and thereafter alignment linkages could be tightened to lock theextenders 180A, 182A and 199A in parallel position.

Once the alignment linkages 310, 350 have been applied, the extenders180A, 182A and 188A are locked parallel. The projected points 214, 216and 218 then mimic the relative positioning of the anatomic points 164,166 and 168, respectively, within the body. Thus, the extenders 180A,182A and 188A apply a translational spatial transformation to theanatomic points 164, 166 and 168 to move them to a more accessiblelocation without altering their positions relative to each other.Accordingly, a rod contoured such that its axis passes through theprojected points 214, 216 and 218 may be installed such that its axispasses through the anatomic points 164, 166 and 168 to properly extendthrough the cages 152 of the pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148.

Referring to FIG. 16, a perspective view illustrates the pedicle screws140, 142 and 148, the extenders 180A, 182A and 188A, and the alignmentlinkages 310 and 350, with a rod 270 seated in the rod interfaces 200 ofthe extenders 180A, 182A and 188A for contouring. The rod 270 has afirst end 272, a second end 274, and a central portion 276. As shown,the first end 272 is positioned in the rod interface 200 of the firstextender 180A, the central portion 276 is positioned in the rodinterface 200 of the second extender 182A, and the second end 274 ispositioned in the rod interface 200 of the third extender 188A.

Due to natural variations in spinal morphology, the cages 152 of thepedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 may not be arranged in a straight line.Thus, the rod interfaces 200 may not be arranged in a straight line.Thus, rod 270 may need to be bent into the proper shape, for example,through the use of tooling such as pliers, a vice, or the like, so thatit will lie properly within the rod interfaces 200. The process ofdeforming the rod 270 to the required shape may be termed “contouring.”

Contouring may be carried out by, first, placing the undeformed rod 270in the rod interfaces 200 to determine how the rod 270 should bedeformed to lay properly within the rod interfaces 200. Then, the rod270 is deformed, and again placed in the rod interfaces 200 to check thefit. This process is repeated until the rod 270 is shaped to provide andoptimal fit with the rod interfaces 200.

In the alternative to contouring, the rod 270 may simply be selectedfrom a kit or like. For example, such a kit may include rods bent at avariety of angles. The rod interfaces 200 could be used to select theproper rod from the kit by placing each rod, in turn, on the rodinterfaces 200 until one is identified that has the proper fit. Asanother alternative, the rod 270 may be custom fabricated, for example,by measuring the relative positions of the rod interfaces 200 and usinga CNC procedure to form the rod 270.

After the rod 270 has been configured or selected, the rod 270 and theextenders 180A, 182A and 188A may be removed from the operating site,leaving the pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 in place. The cannulas 100,102 and 108 or intermediate pieces 80, if used, may also be removed atthis stage, depending on the method that will be used to implant the rod270. The rod 270 may be inserted subcutaneously and placed on the cages152 by making additional incisions to connect the access passagewaysprovided by the cannulas 100, 102 and 108. Alternatively, MIS (MinimallyInvasive Surgical) techniques may be used to implant the rod 270 withoutmaking additional major incisions.

Referring to FIG. 17, a perspective view illustrates the completedposterior spinal fusion system. In addiction to the first and secondvertebrae 24, 26, FIG. 17 illustrates a third vertebra 278 superior tothe second vertebra 26. The third vertebra 278 has features similar tothose set fourth in the description of the first and second vertebrae24, 26. Most pertinently, the third vertebra 278 has pedicles 280 withsaddle points 282.

As shown, the first pedicle screw 140 is implanted in the pedicle 30 ofthe right side of the first vertebra 24, the second pedicle screw 142 isimplanted in the pedicle 50 of the right side of the second vertebra 26,and the third pedicle screw 148 is implanted in the pedicle 280 of theright side of the third vertebra 278. The rod 270 passes through theslots 158, 160 of the cages 152, in such a manner that the axis (notshown) of the rod 270 passes through the anatomic points 164, 166 and168.

First, second, and third nuts 290, 292 and 298 have been rotated intoengagement with the inward-facing surfaces of the arms 156 of the cages152 of the first, second, and third pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148,respectively. The nuts 290, 292 and 298 have been tightened to press thefirst end 272, central portion 276, and second end 274, respectively,against the heads of the screws 154 of the pedicle screws 140, 142 and148, respectively. Thus, the cages 152 are no longer freely rotatablewith respect to the screws 154, but are instead locked in their currentorientations.

The pedicle screws 140, 142 and 148 thus cooperate with the rod 270 torestrict relative motion of the vertebrae 24, 26 and 278 to form aposterior vertebral fusion system. If desired, a similar system may beimplanted in the left-side pedicles 30, 50 and 280 of the vertebrae 24,26 and 278 through the method set forth previously to provide abilateral system. Additionally, the present invention is not limited toa three-level fusion system, but may be used to fuse any number ofvertebrae together. To fuse more than three vertebrae together, thesteps set forth above may simply be repeated for each additionalvertebra, and the rod may be placed on four or more rod interfaces forconfiguration or selection.

The alignment linkage system may also be used with minimally invasivesurgery described in commonly assigned patent application filed on evendate and entitled “ROD CONTOURING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PERCUTANEOUSPEDICLE SCREW EXTENSION,” filed Sep. 25, 2006, Ser. No. 11/526,785,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The foregoing is only one of many methods encompassed within the scopeof the present invention. According to one alternative method, thecannulas 100, 102 and 108 or intermediate pieces 80 may be omittedentirely from the procedure.

Although the invention herein has been described with reference toparticular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodimentsare merely illustrative of the principles and applications of thepresent invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerousmodifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that otherarrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scopeof the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. An alignment linkage for coupling together a first extender and asecond extender, the first extender connected to a first pedicle screwand extending proximally therefrom along a first longitudinal axis, andthe second extender connected to a second pedicle screw and extendingproximally therefrom along a second longitudinal axis, the alignmentlinkage comprising: a first arm having a first connector, the firstconnector having a first opening configured to receive the firstextender therein; and a second arm having a second connector, the secondconnector having a second opening configured to receive the secondextender therein; wherein the first arm and the second arm are coupledtogether in the alignment linkage such that the first and second armsare pivotable relative to one another.
 2. The alignment linkage of claim1, wherein the first opening of the first connector is configured toreceive the first extender such that the first arm is rotatable aboutthe first longitudinal axis of the first extender, and wherein thesecond opening of the second connector is configured to receive thesecond extender such that the second arm is rotatable about the secondlongitudinal axis of the second extender.
 3. The alignment linkage ofclaim 1, wherein the first opening of the first connector is configuredto receive the first extender such that the first arm extendsorthogonally to the first longitudinal axis of the first extender, andwherein the second opening of the second connector is configured toreceive the second extender such that the second arm extendsorthogonally to the second longitudinal axis of the second extender. 4.The alignment linkage of claim 1, wherein the first and second arms areconnected to each other at a pivot point such that the first and secondarms are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot point.
 5. Thealignment linkage of claim 4, wherein the first arm has a proximal endand a distal end, the first connector being located at the distal end ofthe first arm and the pivot point being located at the proximal end ofthe first arm, and wherein the second arm has a proximal end and adistal end, the second connector being located at the distal end of thesecond arm and the pivot point being located at the proximal end of thesecond arm.
 6. The alignment linkage of claim 4, wherein the first andsecond arms are pivotable relative to one another about a plurality ofaxes passing through the pivot point.
 7. The alignment linkage of claim1, further comprising a lock configured to lock the first and secondarms with respect to one another such that the relative orientationbetween the first and second extenders is fixed when the first andsecond extenders are received in the respective first and secondopenings of the first and second arms.
 8. The alignment linkage of claim7, wherein the lock comprises a locking screw configured to move betweena locked configuration and an unlocked configuration by rotationaladvancement.
 9. A system for projecting anatomic points located within apatient's body outside the patient's body, the system comprising: thealignment linkage of claim 1; the first extender having a distal endconfigured to connect to the first pedicle screw; and the secondextender having a distal end configured to connect to the second pediclescrew.
 10. An alignment linkage for coupling together a first extenderand a second extender, the first extender connected to a first pediclescrew and extending proximally therefrom along a first longitudinalaxis, and the second extender connected to a second pedicle screw andextending proximally therefrom along a second longitudinal axis, thealignment linkage comprising: a first arm having a first connector, thefirst connector being connectable to the first extender such that thefirst arm is rotatable about the first longitudinal axis of the firstextender; and a second arm having a second connector, the secondconnector being connectable to the second extender such that the secondarm is rotatable about the second longitudinal axis of the secondextender; wherein the first arm and the second arm are coupled togetherin the alignment linkage such that the first and second arms arepivotable relative to one another.
 11. The alignment linkage of claim10, wherein the first connector is connectable to the first extendersuch that the first arm extends orthogonally to the first longitudinalaxis of the first extender, and wherein the second connector isconnectable to the second extender such that the second arm extendsorthogonally to the second longitudinal axis of the second extender. 12.The alignment linkage of claim 10, wherein the first and second arms areconnected to each other at a pivot point such that the first and secondarms are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot point. 13.The alignment linkage of claim 12, wherein the first arm has a proximalend and a distal end, the first connector being located at the distalend of the first arm and the pivot point being located at the proximalend of the first arm, and wherein the second arm has a proximal end anda distal end, the second connector being located at the distal end ofthe second arm and the pivot point being located at the proximal end ofthe second arm.
 14. The alignment linkage of claim 12, wherein the firstand second arms are pivotable relative to one another about a pluralityof axes passing through the pivot point.
 15. The alignment linkage ofclaim 10, further comprising a lock configured to lock the first andsecond arms with respect to one another such that the relativeorientation between the first and second extenders is fixed when thefirst and second extenders are connected to the respective first andsecond connectors of the first and second arms.
 16. The alignmentlinkage of claim 15, wherein the lock comprises a locking screwconfigured to move between a locked configuration and an unlockedconfiguration by rotational advancement.
 17. A system for projectinganatomic points located within a patient's body outside the patient'sbody, the system comprising: the alignment linkage of claim 10; thefirst extender having a distal end configured to connect to the firstpedicle screw; and the second extender having a distal end configured toconnect to the second pedicle screw.
 18. An alignment linkage forcoupling together a first extender and a second extender, the firstextender connected to a first pedicle screw and extending proximallytherefrom along a first longitudinal axis, and the second extenderconnected to a second pedicle screw and extending proximally therefromalong a second longitudinal axis, the alignment linkage comprising: afirst arm having a first connector, the first connector beingconnectable to the first extender such that the first arm extendsorthogonally to the first longitudinal axis of the first extender; and asecond arm having a second connector, the second connector beingconnectable to the second extender such that the second arm extendsorthogonally to the second longitudinal axis of the second extender;wherein the first arm and the second arm are coupled together in thealignment linkage such that the first and second arms are pivotablerelative to one another.
 19. The alignment linkage of claim 18, whereinthe first and second arms are connected to each other at a pivot pointsuch that the first and second arms are pivotable relative to oneanother about the pivot point.
 20. The alignment linkage of claim 19,wherein the first arm has a proximal end and a distal end, the firstconnector being located at the distal end of the first arm and the pivotpoint being located at the proximal end of the first arm, and whereinthe second arm has a proximal end and a distal end, the second connectorbeing located at the distal end of the second arm and the pivot pointbeing located at the proximal end of the second arm.
 21. The alignmentlinkage of claim 19, wherein the first and second arms are pivotablerelative to one another about a plurality of axes passing through thepivot point.
 22. The alignment linkage of claim 18, further comprising alock configured to lock the first and second arms with respect to oneanother such that the relative orientation between the first and secondextenders is fixed when the first and second extenders are connected tothe respective first and second connectors of the first and second arms.23. The alignment linkage of claim 22, wherein the lock comprises alocking screw configured to move between a locked configuration and anunlocked configuration by rotational advancement.
 24. A system forprojecting anatomic points located within a patient's body outside thepatient's body, the system comprising: the alignment linkage of claim18; the first extender having a distal end configured to connect to thefirst pedicle screw; and the second extender having a distal endconfigured to connect to the second pedicle screw.